MUSIC

The Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, in conjunction withe the University of Houston's Moores School of Music, hosts Dr. Robert Bates, Associate Professor of Organ, in his inaugural recital on the Opus XIX Pipe Organ at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

Robert Bates is Associate Professor at the Moores School of Music. Before coming to the University of Houston, he served as University Organist at Stanford University, where he also received his Ph.D. in Musicology. His teachers of performance include Marie-Claire Alain, Robert Anderson, Daniel Roth and Ray Ferguson. He is an internationally known recording artist and composer, and a specialist in early French and Spanish Organ Music, the history of music theory and early tuning systems.

He is frequently invited to appear at national conferences sponsored by organizations such as the American Guild of Organists, the Organ Historical Society, the American Organ Academy, the American Musicological Society, the Westfield Center and the American Institute of Organ Builders. During the past few years, he has performed solo recitals at Stanford University, Cornell University, Arizona State University, the University of North Texas, the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Michigan, Westminster Choir College, the New England Conservatory of Music, the Eastman School of Music, Duke University and the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

He has recorded the complete organ works of Brahms (Pro Organo), Daquin (Loft Recordings) and Correa de Arauxo (to be released by Loft Recordings). His three-CD set, "Viaticum" (Loft Recordings), contains eight of his own compositions. His live performance for the National Convention of the American Guild of Organists in 2000 is now available on CD ("Robert Bates in recital at Lagerquist Hall," ReZound Recordings). According to The Organ (UK), his most recent CD ("…in Dialogue, Vol. 1," Loft Recordings), is "an unusual and utterly brilliant release." His music is published by Wayne Leupold Editions (ECS Publishing, Boston), and he is represented by WindWerk Artists under the management of Penny Lorenz.

Education: B.A. with Ray P. Ferguson, Wayne State University, 1974; M.M. with Robert Anderson, 1977; Organ performance with Marie-Claire Alain, Conservatoire de Rueil-Malmaison, France; Ph. D., Stanford University, 1986. Dissertation: "From Mode to Key: A Study of Seventeenth-century French Liturgical Organ Music and Music Theory."

Prizes and Awards: Distinguished Alumnus Award in Arts Achievement, Wayne State University, 1995; Prix de virtuosité, class of Marie-Claire Alain, 1978 by unanimous consent of the jury, Conservatoire de Rueil-Malmaison, France; winner: San Antonio, 1976; Los Angeles, 1976 (returned as judge in 1993); Fort Wayne (2nd prize, 1972; first prize by unanimous consent of the jury, 1976); finalist, Chartres, 1976.

Performances: Performances, lectures, and commissioned works written for American Guild of Organists, American Institute of Organ Builders, Organ Historical Society, American Organ Academy, American Musicological Society, and universities including Cornell, Harvard, Stanford, Notre Dame, UC Berkeley. Featured recitalist and workshop leader for National Convention of AGO, July 2000. Frequent solo performances throughout US, and in Switzerland, France, Sweden, Belgium, Holland, Poland, Germany and Mexico.

Recordings and Publications: CDs for Pro Organo Label (complete Brahms Organ Works), Loft Recordings (various recordings including complete Daquin Organ Works), Organ Historical Society; articles for Performance Practice Review, Organ Yearbook, Histoire des Science, Music and Letters; Wayne Leupold Editions (ECS).

Professional Affiliations: Associate Professor of Organ at The Moores School of Music, The University of Houston, 1999-; Memorial Church Organist and University Organist, Stanford University, 1986-1999; Dean, Palo Alto Chapter, AGO, 1994; Executive Committee Member and Treasurer, American Organ Academy, 1992-1999.